Preliminary plans are in the works to develop a city-owned lot in Jersey City’s historic Bergen Hill neighborhood. According to files from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA), a five-story residential building could come to 23 Cornelison Avenue, between Westervelt Place and State Street, just off of Summit Avenue in the Morris Canal Redevelopment Area.
Currently, the property is a vacant wooded lot that is wholly owned by the City of Jersey City, surrounded by a stone wall and fence. It sits across the street from the historic but vacant Parodi Cigar Manufacturing Company building, and is adjacent to Bergen Hill Summit Avenue Park, a small community park which is slated to be renovated, according to the JCRA documents.
During its meeting on January 17th, all present members of the JCRA Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to designate Tovaste Management, LLC as the redeveloper of the property. Tovaste, a Secaucus-based developer responsible for projects like 197 Academy at Journal Square and 19 Rock, reportedly made a formal presentation to the authority regarding their plans for 23 Cornelison. The company is looking to construct a five-story building with 30 apartments and 21 parking spaces. The redeveloper designation lasts for 120 days, at which time Tovaste can enter into contract negotiations with the JCRA. Tovaste acquired the neighboring lot at 31 Cornelison Avenue for $250,000 in 2015, according to NJ Parcels records.
The site is within close walking distance of The Junction, where there is a variety of businesses and NJ Transit bus service to Newark and Exchange Place. The closest light rail station, Garfield Avenue, is about half a mile away.
The Cornelison Avenue corridor has historically been quite industrial. However, a transition into residential is beginning on the block. For example, nearby, as Jersey Digs reported last year, a 37-unit building will rise at 37-39 Cornelison Avenue.
